Mounting apparatus for storage device

ABSTRACT

A mounting apparatus for holding a storage device includes a bracket, a base, a sliding member, an elastic member and an operating member. The bracket includes a receiving groove. The base includes a receiving space for receiving the bracket and a fixing portion corresponding to the receiving groove. The sliding member is disposed in the fixing portion and engaged with the receiving groove, for flexible connecting the bracket and the base. The elastic member is disposed in the fixing portion, for replacement of the sliding member. The operating member is connected with the sliding member for moving the sliding member. The storage device is fixed in the bracket and the bracket is flexible connected with the base. Thus, the storage device is easy to assemble or disassemble from the base.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION

Related subject matter is disclosed in the copending U.S. patent application filed on the same date and having a same title with the present application, which is assigned to the same assignee with this patent application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mounting apparatus for holding a storage device, and more particularly to a mounting apparatus for holding a storage device of a notebook computer.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

A conventional mounting apparatus for a storage device of a notebook computer includes a base, a drive bracket and a cover. The base defines a locating hole therein. The base includes a receiving groove, and the drive bracket includes a latching portion corresponding the receiving groove. The cover includes a locating portion. In assembly, the storage device is put into the drive bracket. Then the latching portion of the drive bracket is inserted into the receiving groove, and the locating portion of the cover is engaged with the locating hole of the base. Thus, the storage device is fixed in the base of the notebook computer.

Installation and disassembly of a storage device in a notebook computer typically involves opening or closing the cover. A structure of the mounting apparatus is relative complex, and the installation and the disassembly are fussy.

What is desired, therefore, is a mounting apparatus that conveniently and securely holds a storage device in a bracket.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In one preferred embodiment, a mounting apparatus for holding a storage device includes a bracket, a base, a sliding member, an elastic member and an operating member. The bracket includes a receiving groove. The base includes a receiving space for receiving the bracket and a fixing portion corresponding to the receiving groove. The sliding member is disposed in the fixing portion and engaged with the receiving groove, for flexible connecting the bracket and the base. The elastic member is disposed in the fixing portion, for replacement of the sliding member. The operating member is connected with the sliding member for moving the sliding member. The storage device is fixed in the bracket and the bracket is flexible connected with the base. Thus, the storage device is easy to assemble or disassemble in the base.

Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a mounting apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with a storage device;

FIG. 2 is another isometric view of FIG. 1 viewed from opposite aspects; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are assembled views of FIG. 1, showing different work states, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a mounting apparatus is provided for holding a storage device 50. The mounting apparatus includes a bracket 10 and a base 30.

The bracket 10 includes a bottom plate 11 and two side plates 13. A stopping plate 111 is bent from an end of the bottom plate 11. Two locating portions 113 extend from an inner side of the stopping plate 111. Each of the side plates 13 includes two protrusions 131. One of the side plates 13 includes a receiving groove 17 in the vicinity of the bottom plate 11. Each of the side plates 13 defines two recesses 133 in two ends thereof. A block 15 is formed from each of the recesses 133 and a screw 151 is inserted through the block 15 to fix the storage device 50 on the bracket 10.

The base 30 includes a bottom wall 32, a top wall 311, an end wall 313, and two sidewalls 312. The bottom wall 32, the top wall 311, the end wall 313, and the sidewalls 312 form a receiving space 31. The receiving space 31 can receive the storage device 50 therein. Each of the sidewalls 312 defines two openings 315 having an L shape. One of the sidewalls 312 defines a sliding aperture 316 corresponding to the receiving groove 17 of the bracket 10. Two locating holes 317 are defined in a connecting portion between the top wall 311 and the end wall 313, corresponding to the locating portion 113 of the stopping plate 111. The base 30 also includes a fixing portion 33 in the vicinity of the sliding aperture 316. The fixing portion 33 includes a rack 331 with an L shape. A sliding aperture 335 is defined in the bottom wall 32 and within the rack 331.

A sliding member 35 and an elastic portion 37 are disposed in the rack 331. The sliding member 35 comprises a main portion 353. A first resisting portion 351 and two second resisting portions 352 extend from two opposite ends of the main portion 353 respectively. Each of the second resisting portions 352 includes a latching slot 357. A protruding post 355 extends from the main portion 353 between the second resisting portions 352. An operating member 39 includes two latching portions 391 perpendicularly extending therefrom.

Referring to also FIG. 3, in assembly, the sliding member 35 is placed in the rack 331. The first resisting portion 351 runs through the sliding aperture 316. Two ends of the elastic member 37 are engaged on the protruding post 355 and an inner side of the rack 331. The latching portions 391 run through the sliding aperture 335 of the bottom wall 32 and the latching slots 357, and engage with the second resisting portions 352.

The protrusions 131 of the bracket 10 is perpendicularly inserted into the openings 315 of the base 30 and horizontally slides along the openings 315 until the protrusions 131 are blocked by inner sides of the openings 315. At the same time, the bracket 10 pushes the first resisting portion 351 of the sliding member 35 out of the sliding aperture 316 of the base 30. The elastic portion 37 is compressed. When the receiving groove 17 of the bracket 10 and the sliding aperture 316 of the base 30 are connected together, the first resisting portion 351 of the sliding member 35 runs through the sliding aperture 316 and is engaged in the receiving groove 17, by restoring of the elastic member 37. The locating portion 113 of the stopping plate 111 is latched with the locating hole 317 of the base 30. Thus, the storage device 50 and the bracket 10 are fixed on the base 30.

Referring FIG. 4, in disassembly, the operating member 39 is moved toward an opposite direction of the sliding aperture 316, and the elastic member 37 is compressed, so the first resisting portion 351 of the sliding member 35 is pushed out of the receiving groove 17 and the sliding aperture 316. Then the bracket 10 and the storage device 50 are readily to be moved out of the base 30.

The elastic member 37 is an elastic component such as a spring, an elastic plate and so on.

It is believed that the present embodiment and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the example hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiment. 

1. A mounting apparatus for holding a storage device, the mounting apparatus comprising: a bracket for receiving the storage device, the bracket comprising a receiving groove; a base comprising a receiving space for receiving the bracket and a fixing portion corresponding to the receiving groove; a sliding member disposed in the fixing portion and engaged with the receiving groove, for flexible connecting the bracket and the base; an elastic member disposed in the fixing portion, for replacement of the sliding member; and an operating member connected with the sliding member for moving the sliding member.
 2. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding member comprises a first resisting portion, and the first resisting portion is inserted into the receiving groove.
 3. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding member comprises two second resisting portions, each of the second resisting portions comprises a latching slot, the fixing portion comprises a sliding aperture, and the operating member comprises two latching portions, each of the latching portions gets through the sliding aperture and the latching slot, and engages with the second resisting portions.
 4. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sliding member comprises a main portion, a protruding post extends from the main portion between the second resisting portions, and two ends of the elastic member are connected to the protruding post and an inner side of the fixing portion.
 5. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises two side plates, each of the side plates defines two recesses in two ends thereof, a block is formed from each of the recesses, and a screw is inserted through the block for fixing the storage device in the bracket.
 6. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises two side plates, each of the side plates of the bracket comprises two protrusions, and each of the sidewalls of the base comprises two L-shape openings, the protrusions engaged with the openings.
 7. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises a bottom plate, a stopping plate being bent from an end of the bottom plate and a plurality of locating portions extending from an inner side of the stopping plate, and the base defines a plurality of locating holes corresponding to the locating portions.
 8. A mounting apparatus assembly comprising: a storage device; a bracket for receiving the storage device, the bracket comprising a receiving groove; a base comprising a receiving space for receiving the bracket and a fixing portion corresponding to the receiving groove; and a connecting member engaged with the receiving groove, for flexible connecting the base and the bracket.
 9. The mounting apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the connecting member comprises a sliding member disposed in the fixing portion and engaged with the receiving groove, an elastic member disposed in the fixing portion for replacement of the sliding member, and an operating member connected with the sliding member for moving the sliding member.
 10. The mounting apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sliding member comprises a first resisting portion and a main portion, and the first resisting portion is inserted into the receiving groove.
 11. The mounting apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sliding member comprises two second resisting portions, each of the second resisting portions comprises a latching slot, the fixing portion comprises a sliding aperture, and the operating member comprises two latching portions, each of the latching portions gets through the sliding aperture and the latching slot, and engages with the second resisting portions.
 12. The mounting apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sliding member comprises a main portion, a protruding post extends from the main portion between the second resisting portions, and two ends of the elastic member are connected to the protruding post and an inner side of the fixing portion.
 13. The mounting apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the bracket comprises two side plates, each of the side plates defines two recesses in two ends thereof, a block is formed from each of the recesses, and a screw is inserted through the block for fixing the storage device in the bracket.
 14. The mounting apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the bracket comprises two side plates, each of the side plates of the bracket comprises two protrusions, and each of the sidewalls of the base comprises two L-shape openings, the protrusions engaged with the openings.
 15. The mounting apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the bracket comprises a bottom plate, a stopping plate being bent from an end of the bottom plate and a plurality of locating portions extending from an inner side of the stopping plate, and the base defines a plurality of locating holes corresponding to the locating portions. 